Grep vs. Windows Explorer Search

[april]

Sometimes I need to search through a long list of .txt files to find certain strings so I know
which files have the strings and what's on each line that has the strings.

When I use Windows Explorer to search for a string, it displays all the files that has the string
but it does not display the content of the lines that has the string.

Grep is the better tool but the problem is it returns back nothing.  I tried different grep
programs like Windows Grep and command line grep and got the same result.

Here's what I typed in:

grep -i help *.txt

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[contrex]

1. What version of Windows are you using?

2. Depending on the answer to (1), FINDSTR might be helpful. Type findstr /? at the prompt.

[WillyW]

Sometimes I need to search through a long list of .txt files to find certain strings so I know
which files have the strings and what's on each line that has the strings.

When I use Windows Explorer to search for a string, it displays all the files that has the string
but it does not display the content of the lines that has the string.

Grep is the better tool but the problem is it returns back nothing.  I tried different grep
programs like Windows Grep and command line grep and got the same result.

Here's what I typed in:

grep -i help *.txt

Does anyone have any suggestions?

List.com might do what you need.

Uncrippled shareware from ages ago.    I like it, and keep it in my path.

To seach through a bunch of .txt files looking for specific text:

               list *.txt /fsearch_string_here

then use   alt-a    to continue searching.


List.com may be downloaded here:
http://www.oregonfast.net/~steen/msdos.htm

The zip file includes a nice    list.doc   file too.

[april]

I use Windows XP.